Method of assembling an artificial waterfall



Nov. 5, 1968 0. E. GOSH 3,409,223

METHOD OF ASSBMBLING AN ARTIFICIAL WATERFALL Filed Sept. 29, 1966 BYMagda 5 nuwel JTVTORNE YS United States Patent 3,409,223 METHOD OFASSEMBLING AN ARTIFICIAL WATERFALL DuaneE. Gosh, 4645 Beechnut, Houston,Tex. 77035 Filed Sept. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 582,935 3 Claims. (Cl. 239-12)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a new and improvedmethod of assembling a waterfall and more particularly to a new andimproved method for assembling an artificial waterfall that is portableand easily assembled.

In grouudkeeping operations around housing and buildings, it is wellknown that a beautiful waterfall properly positioned improves thelandscape generally and more particularly improves the landscape settingaround the house and buildings. However, while such waterfalls arehighly desirable, in recent years they have become prohibitive inexpense, upkeep, or maintenance and more and more complicated in theirconstruction.

. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved method of assembling a waterfall, which assembly may bedone easily and quickly with a minimum of time and unnecessary expense.

, Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method of assembling of a waterfall utilizing a minimum ofmaterials for construction thereof.

The preferred embodiment ot this invention will be described hereinaftertogether with other features thereof, and additional objects will becomeevident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specifications and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof wherein an example of the invention is shown andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled portable waterfall;

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an alternative first step inassembling the waterfall;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view illustrating further steps in assemblingthe waterfall; and

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view illustrating the last steps in theassembling of the waterfall.

Briefly, the present invention relates to a method of assembling awaterfall utilizing a pool liner, a plurality of flat members, and aplurality of boulder members in an assembled relationship.

Attention is directed to FIG. 1 wherein the waterfall of the presentinvention is generally designated by the numeral and is illustrated asincluding a pool liner 11, which in the preferred form is constructed ofsynthetic resin, vinyl resin, or other suitable materials as furtherillustrated, a plurality of boulder members B are assembled adjacent theliner 11 in a definite relationship to be brought out hereinafter. Abody of water W is retained by said pool liner 11 and is circulatedthrough a plurality of boulder members and other materials forming thehead of the waterfall generally designated at 15 for forming thewaterfall effect.

Attention is directed to FIG. 2, wherein the pool liner 11 isillustrated as being partially positioned in the ground G. It is to beunderstood that the inner surface 11:: of the pool liner 11 is adaptedto retain the water W as illustrated in FIG. 1. It is also to beunderstood that while the positioning or inserting of the pool liner 11partially into ground G may comprise the first step of the method ofthis invention, such step is not absolutely necessary for the method ofassembling the waterfall.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 3 wherein the first steps in assemblyof the invention 10 are illustrated. As illustrated therein, the poolliner 11 is positioned partially in the ground G with an'upstandingportion 11b extending thereabove. A fiat member 16 is positioned on thebottom 11c adjacent a portion of the pool liner 11 generally designatedat 17. The fiat member 16 may be cut or hewn out of natural rock or maybe constructed from other suitable materials which simulate fiatboulders or rocks. Positioned on top of the flat member 16 and adjacentthe portion of the pool liner-generally designated at 17 is a generallycircular boulder member 18. The member 18 may be of any general size andshape and may be a volcanic ash boulder or other suitable materialswhich are adapted to simulate boulders or other natural rocks.

Asillustrated in FIG. 3, another member 19 is positioned on top of andrests on the member 18. However, it is to be understood that this is analternative step depending upon the size of the member 18.

Another fiat member 20 is positioned on member 19 at preferably a 45degree angle relative to the bottom of the pool liner 11. Thereafter,member 21 is positioned on the ground G adjacent the portion of the poolliner generally designated at 17 so that the end 20a of the fiat member20 may rest thereon. Thereafter, a plurality of round members 22,23, and24 is positioned on the flat member 20 above and adjacent the portion11b of the pool liner 11. It should be understood that the members 22,23, and 24 may comprise one member if said member is large enough orsuitable in size to perform its necessary function set forthhereinafter. Another flat member 30 is then positioned to rest on top ofthe members 22 and 24. The flat member 30 is positioned at approximatelyor preferably a 45 degree angle relative to the bottom 110 of the poolliner 11 and that the edge 30b of such member is positioned directlyabove the upper portion 200 of the flat member 20. Also, the fiat member20 also extends outwardly from the members 18 and 19 so that the edge20b is directly above the bottom of the pool liner 110.

As further illustrated in FIG. 3, a pump P is suitably positioned on thebottom 110 of the pool liner 11 preferably adjacent or in openingscreated by the member 18 adjacent the flat member 16 and under the edge20b of the flat member 20. The pump P is a pump for circulating water Win a manner to be brought out hereinafter and is provided with awatertight electrical connection 35 for driving such pump. The pump P isprovided with a circulation hose 36 which is hidden and positioned amongthe various members until becoming arranged and positioned such that theend 36a is on top of the flat member 3011.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a boulder member 51 is then positioned overthe fiat member 30 and immediately adjacent the top surface 30a thereofto hide from view the end 36a of the hose 36. After the steps ofconstructing the head of the waterfall designated at 15 are completed,boulder members 40 are then placed around the inner surface 11a of theperiphery of the pool liner 11 and are positioned to rest on the bottom11c. Thereafter, the members 45 are positioned on the ground andadjacent the upper portion 11b of the pool liner 11 such that the innerand outer periphery of the pool liner 11 will have a natural outdoorboulder or rough hewn rock effect.

It should here be noted that in some instances it may be desirable topaint the pool liner 11 black or any other viously mentioned to create anatural effect. It should also be noted that the bottom 11c of the poolliner 11 may be covered with pebbles or other suitable materials, eithernatural or artificial, generally designated at 50, for further creatinga natural effect.

From the foregoing, it is submitted that the present invention can bereadily understood, but briefly the present invention operates in thefollowing manner. Pool liner 11 is positioned on top of or positionedpartially in the ground G. The fiat member 16 of suitable material aspreviously mentioned is positioned on the bottom 11c f the pool liner 11adjacent one side generally designated at 17 of the pool liner.Thereafter, member 18 is positioned thereon. As previously mentioned,member 18 and the other members similarly shaped may be either a naturalboulder such as volcanic ash or may be of a waterproof papier mache typematerial or other suitable materials.

Flat member 20 is then positioned thereon preferably at a 45-degreeangle to the bottom surface 110 of the pool liner 11. Then, member 21 ispositioned on the ground adjacent 17 to support the end or edge 20a ofthe fiat member 20. The next step involves positioning members 22, 23,and 24 on member 20. Subsequently fiat member is positioned on members22 and 24 such that the edge 30b of said member is above a portion offlat member 20, and fiat member 30 is also positioned at a 45- degreeangle relative to the bottom surface 110 of the pool liner 11.

At this point, the pump P is positioned and hidden among the members 16and 18 in the bottom of the pool 11c and the circulation hose 36 ispositioned such that the end 36a of such hose 36 extends over the edgeof the fiat. member 30 opposite from edge 3012. Thereafter, member 31 ispositioned around and on top of the end of the hose 36a so that it ishidden from view.

To complete the waterfall 10, it is necessary to position the members 40around the inner periphery 11a of th pool liner 11 and then position themembers on the ground and adjacent the outer periphery of the pool liner11 such that a natural effect is created such as that illustrated inFIG. 1.

Thereafter, the pump P may be actuated to cause water W positioned inthe pool liner 11 to be circulated upwardly through the hose 36 and outthrough the end 36a thereof to spill or fall on the upper surface 30a ofthe fiat member 30 such as that being designated at 52. The water W thenflows or cascades down the inclined slope of the flat member 30 to dropon the upper surface of the flat member 20 such as that illustrated at53. Thereafter, the water falls or cascades downwardly to fall into thepool liner 11 such as that illustrated in FIG. 4 to be recirculated bythe pump P through the hose 36 thereagain. It is to be understood thatas many of the boulder members and fiat members as desired may bealternatively positioned relative to each other without departing fromthe scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of assembling an artificial waterwall without the use ofmortar and the like comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a pool liner having upstanding sides and a bottomadjacent the ground;.

(b) positioning a first fiat member on the inside of the pool linerwherein the first fiat member rests on the bottom thereof and isadjacent one of the sides;

(c) positioning a first boulder member on the first flat member; v

(d) positioning a second fiat member on top of the boulder member at anangle relative to the pool liner wherein one edge of the first fiatmember extends itito the pool; 7

(e) positioning a second boulder member adjacent the liner and under thesecond fiat member for supporting the second fiat member;

(f) positioning a plurality of upper boulder members on top of thesecond flat member; 7

(g) positioning a third fiat member on top of the plurality of upperboulder members parallel to the second fiat member such that one edge ofthe third fiat member is positioned above the center portion of thesecond fiat member;

(h) inserting and positioning a water circulation pump in the pool lineron the bottom surface thereof adjacent the first flat member in (b);

(i) connecting a circulation hose to the water pump;

(j) positioning the unconnected end of the hose on the top surface ofthe third fiat member;

(k) pOsitiOning a boulder member over the hose and the third fiatmember;

(1) placing water in the pool liner to substantially cover the waterpump;

(m) actuating the pump; and

(n) circulating Water through the pump and .hose wherein water flowsfrom the connected end of the hose onto the top surface of the thirdflat member to thereby cascade downwardly to fall on the top surface ofthe second fiat member to thereafter cascade into the pool liner to berecirculated there again by the pump, thereby creating an artificialwaterfall.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including the step ofpositioning and placing boulder members around the inner surface of thepool liner.

3. The steps as set forth in claim 2 including the step of positioningand placing boulder members around the outer surface of the pool linerwherein a natural effect boulder pool is created.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,322,803 11/1919 MacFadden2391"7.X 1,762,126 6/1930 Smith 239--20 X 2,133,499 10/1938 Dolan.

OTHER REFERENCES Garden Pools, Fountains and Waterfalls, Lane Books,

Menlo Park, Calif. Copyright 1965. Scientific Library date: Sept. 20,1965. Pertinent pages: 1, 3, 5, 9, 13, 23, 25, 33, 35, 50, 54, 55, 56,63, 70. Gr. 332, SB, 423, S8.

Thomas, Dr. G. L., Jr.: Garden Pools, Water-Lilies, and Goldfish,Copyright 1958, Gr. 332, SB, 423, T4. Pertinent Drawing 14.

ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primary Examiner.

VAN C. WILKS, Assistant Examiner.

